Akshay Salecha
Protected Cultivation: A Profitable Venture
Village- Barbata, District- Nagaur, State- Rajasthan
INTRODUCTION :
Mr. Akshay Salecha (24 years) is a dynamic young agripreneur managing 30,000 sqm of protected cultivation units at Barbata in Nagaur district, Rajasthan. After completing his studies in Chartered Accountancy, he initially joined his family’s marble–granite business in Jodhpur. Belonging to a family with substantial agricultural landholding, he aspired to modernize farming through advanced technologies. In this pursuit, he visited ICAR–CAZRI along with his father, where exposure to various protected cultivation systems and successful nearby polyhouse and nethouse enterprises strongly motivated him to adopt protected cultivation as a commercial venture.
TRAINING :
Mr. Salecha received a 10-day EDP training on protected cultivation from the ABI Centre, ICAR–CAZRI in February 2025. Prior to formal training, he established his first 10,000 sqm nethouse in September 2024 under technical guidance from ICAR–CAZRI. The structured training further strengthened his technical knowledge and practical skills through classroom sessions and hands-on exposure. Following completion of the EDP, he established two additional nethouses of 10,000 sqm each, in February and May 2025, bringing the total protected area under his management to 30,000 sqm.
ACHIEVEMENTS :
From the three nethouses (30,000 sqm), Mr. Salecha takes two crops annually and earns a net profit ranging between ₹30–40 lakh per year. On average, each 10,000 sqm unit generates ₹10–12 lakh annually, depending on seasonal productivity and market prices. His enterprise has also generated rural employment by engaging 10–12 regular workers at the farm.
IMPORTANCE FOR FARMERS :
Through the adoption of protected cultivation technologies, Mr. Salecha has demonstrated how scientific interventions combined with entrepreneurial orientation can lead to a successful and scalable agribusiness in arid regions. His enterprise has emerged as a model farm in the locality, inspiring rural youth to build careers in agriculture through high-value vegetable cultivation under protected structures. Around 5–6 prospective growers visit his farm every month for learning and exposure.
RECOGNITION :
Mr. Salecha’s journey highlights how dedication, perseverance, and scientific farming can transform protected cultivation into a highly profitable enterprise in arid and semi-arid regions. As the next step, he plans to diversify into high-value cash crops such as cherry tomato and coloured capsicum to further enhance productivity and maximize returns.
